The Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Lean Tissue

There are many theories out there about aerobic or cardiovascular exercise breaking down the lean tissue in the body. Aerobic exercise (exercise w/oxygen) should be a vital part of your regular fitness program. You are not only burning calories but you are using the most important muscle in your body - the heart. As your heart is pumping blood throughout the body you are increasing the amount of oxygen and the size of the blood vessels in your body. These blood vessels supply oxygen to the tissues including your muscles. The oxygen also carries out waste products to help with recovery and growth of tissue.

What type of cardiovascular activity is best for you and your goals? Running, jogging and jumping rope are all examples of high impact aerobics and may tend to break down muscle tissue, burn more calories and with the presence of an improper nutrition program may lead to muscle loss. Aerobic exercise requires sustained energy, often burning carbohydrates and fat as fuel. Without proper nutrition, especially adequate protein intake, the body may turn to lean tissue (muscle) for energy when glycogen stores are depleted. This occurs because muscle proteins can be broken down into amino acids, which the body converts into glucose to maintain energy levels. Over time, this can lead to muscle loss if the body isn't replenished with enough protein to repair and rebuild tissues. Proper nutrition, including sufficient calories and protein, is essential to preserve lean tissue while performing aerobic exercises. Walking, cycling and stair climbing are examples of non-impact cardiovascular activities that will potentially minimize the breakdown of muscle tissue if the intensity low. Determining what your ultimate goals are, whether overall weight loss, body fat loss or gaining lean body mass, will help you determine what type of cardiovascular exercise is best for you to reach your goals. It is very important to choose a type of exercise you will enjoy and will not cause boredom.

To strengthen your cardiovascular system and achieve fat loss, you should do prolonged aerobic exercise consistently for 20 - 60 minutes intensely enough to increase your heart rate. One of the most effective ways to gauge how hard your are working during exercise is to wear your heart rate monitor. A slow, steady and long duration program will achieve greater fat loss results when done on a consistent basis. One tip to achieving faster results is to complete your aerobic activity first thing in the morning prior to breakfast with plenty of water. Since your body has been burning calories during the nights sleep, body fat will be utilized as energy in the absence of glycogen in the blood stream.

In conclusion, the muscle tissue in your body is vitally important for longevity and ultimate weight control. To get the most out of your cardiovascular exercise, have your VO2 Max test done. It will give you exact heartrate zones to gauge your workout intensity. By incorporating a regular weight training and cardiovascular exercise program in your daily routine, you can add years to your life and life to your years.